Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is shown during training session on May 30, 2017. Paul White / AP Photo
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is shown during training session on May 30, 2017. Paul White / AP Photo

Real Madrid v Juventus: Bale ‘desperate’ to return, but Zidane not settled on selection



Gareth Bale is “desperate” to return from injury in time for a Uefa Champions League final homecoming against Juventus in Cardiff on Saturday, his Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane said on Tuesday.

Bale hasn’t played since suffering the latest in a series of calf injuries that have plagued his time in Madrid, against Barcelona on April 23.

But with the Welshman back in training the pressure is on Zidane to choose between Madrid’s record signing or stick with Isco.

The Spaniard has been in sensational form as Real won their last six games to beat Barca to the La Liga title last weekend.

“Gareth doesn’t need to tell me anything. He is ready, he is back with us and he is absolutely desperate to play because it is his home,” Zidane said on Tuesday.

“We are happy that Gareth is with us. I’m glad he has recovered and we will prepare for the game together as always.”

However, after being bombarded with questions over whether he will go for Isco or Bale, Zidane also raised the possibility of the two playing together at some stage of the game against the Italian champions.

“The two of them are very good players,” he added.

“They played 16 games together this season, everyone speaks about Gareth or Isco but they can play together.”

* Agence France-Presse

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Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

Planes grounded by coronavirus

British Airways: Cancels all direct flights to and from mainland China 

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific: Cutting capacity to/from mainland China by 50 per cent from Jan. 30

Chicago-based United Airlines: Reducing flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong

Ai Seoul:  Suspended all flights to China

Finnair: Suspending flights to Nanjing and Beijing Daxing until the end of March

Indonesia's Lion Air: Suspending all flights to China from February

South Korea's Asiana Airlines,  Jeju Air  and Jin Air: Suspend all flights


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